Fans will be disappointed to know that
Jack Mackenroth, who previously dropped out of the fourth season of
Project Runway due to a skin infection, won’t be returning to the reality competition anytime soon. His career after
Project Runway definitely took off with his appearance on
Law & Order SVU and minor role on the upcoming
Sex and the City film, aside from other endeavors. More recently, however, reports circulated, speaking of him returning to
Project Runway. He already went through the whole audition process in New York, but eventually realized that he wasn’t up for yet another emotional and stressful competition.
"To re-audition, I couldn't have brought the same [clothes]. I would've had to make new pieces, which is a huge investment in time and money," Mackenroth told the
New York Post. "In the end, I decided I just couldn't give up another year of my life."
Fans would definitely be saddened to hear this news, but he believes that it was all for the better. After his staph infection, which caused him to drop out of season 4, he wasn't up to the emotional challenge that was again going to face him once he entered the competition.
"It was just so scary," season 4 contestant and Mackenroth's friend, Kit Pistol said of his illness. "You don't have your family or close friends and you're not feeling well. And there's all this pressure. I know Jack had auditioned [for] season three and then to be accepted [for] season four and not make it through due to health reasons was just crushing."
"The larger issue is that it's a really contagious bacteria," Mackenroth said. His illness stemmed out of his HIV, a fact which he openly talked about even while in the competition. "The producers were trying to make it work. They were going to have a special sewing machine that only I would use. But I was like, 'Am I going to be selfish and just hope that no one else will get this?'"
Finally, Mackenroth decided to call it off and just leave the dream behind. Nonetheless, he had the support of fashion guru
Tim Gunn, wherever Mackenroth wanted to go career wise after this.
"Tim was trying to comfort me because I was crying," Mackenroth recalled. "And he said, 'Listen, you're very talented. Everything happens for a reason.' And at the time I thought, 'That's a load of crap.' Because at that moment, it didn't feel that way."
"But things do happen for a reason," he concluded. "There was an outpouring of support. And a lot of opportunities have come my way."
Opportunities have indeed come his way now that he will be designing a red carpet attire for Heather Tom of the soap opera,
The Bold and the Beautiful. He also considering a job with a new Tokyo-based company named Uniqlo. Fans mustn't worry though, it looks like Mackenroth will still be in the fashion spotlight.
-Valerie Anne del Castillo, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source:
New York Post
(Photo courtesy of Bravo)